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Albertsons Companies (ACI)
NYSE:ACI

Albertsons Companies (ACI) AI Stock Analysis

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Albertsons Companies

(NYSE:ACI)

Rating:62Neutral
Price Target:
$22.50
▲(6.03%Upside)
Albertsons Companies' overall stock score is driven by a solid financial performance and fair valuation. However, technical indicators suggest bearish sentiment, and earnings call highlights challenges with margins and inflationary pressures.
Positive Factors
Business Performance
ACI’s ability to leverage its digital media capabilities, invest in new store openings and upgrades, and expand its loyalty program to drive accelerating growth in pharmacy and e-commerce sales and in-store traffic enable it to perform well.
Growth Initiatives
ACI will continue to drive growth through the ongoing investment of its cash flow in key growth initiatives, including enhanced digital and omnichannel capabilities combined with new store openings and upgrades, as well as enhancing shareholder returns through ongoing dividend increases and share repurchases.
Valuation
ACI may see valuation expansion from low levels as investors seek cheap, defensive stocks.
Negative Factors
Digital and Process Centralization
ACI remains at a discount given it is behind in digital and centralizing of processes.
Earnings Guidance
EPS guidance of $2.03-2.16 fell short of the $2.28 consensus and $2.30-ish market bar.
Investment Concerns
Concerns around an investment year proved to be correct, as EPS guidance fell short of the market bar.

Albertsons Companies (ACI) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Albertsons Companies Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAlbertsons Companies, Inc. (ACI) is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States. The company operates across multiple sectors, primarily focusing on retail grocery and pharmacy services. Through its various well-known banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, and several others, the company offers a wide range of products such as groceries, fresh produce, and pharmacy services to its customers. With a strong presence in the retail sector, Albertsons Companies serves millions of customers across numerous store locations nationwide.
How the Company Makes MoneyAlbertsons Companies generates revenue through several key streams, primarily from the sale of groceries and pharmacy products. Its core revenue model is based on retail operations, where the company sells a wide array of products, including fresh produce, packaged foods, beverages, household goods, and health and beauty items. In addition to grocery sales, the company earns significant revenue from its in-store pharmacy services, which include prescription dispensing and health consultations. Albertsons also engages in strategic partnerships and loyalty programs, enhancing customer engagement and sales. The company's revenue model is supported by its extensive network of stores, robust supply chain, and strong brand recognition across its multiple banners.

Albertsons Companies Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 15, 2025
(Q4-2024)
|
% Change Since: -0.93%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 29, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflects a mixed sentiment. While Albertsons reported strong growth in E-commerce, loyalty programs, and pharmacy revenue, as well as significant productivity savings and shareholder returns, the company faces challenges with gross margin pressure, declining adjusted EBITDA and EPS, inflationary headwinds, and potential tariff impacts.
Q4-2024 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong E-commerce and Loyalty Growth
E-commerce grew 24% in the fourth quarter and the full year, with first-party far outpacing third-party growth. Loyalty membership grew by over 15% year-over-year to more than 45 million members.
Pharmacy Revenue Increase
Pharmacy revenue increased 18% year-over-year, driven by industry-leading script and immunization growth, and best-in-class customer satisfaction scores.
Productivity and Cost Savings
From fiscal year 2025 through fiscal year 2027, Albertsons expects to deliver $1.5 billion in productivity savings, which will be reinvested in growth initiatives and customer value propositions.
Albertsons Media Collective (AMC) Expansion
AMC is expected to grow faster than the retail media market, with significant investments to improve both endemic and non-endemic brand reach.
Capital Allocation and Shareholder Returns
Albertsons returned approximately $87 million to shareholders through dividends and repurchased $83 million of common stock in Q4 2024. The company plans to complete a $2 billion share repurchase program over the next three years.
Negative Updates
Gross Margin and SG&A Pressure
Gross margin decreased by 45 basis points due to strong growth in Pharmacy sales and increased digital volume-related delivery costs. SG&A expenses also increased due to business transformation costs.
Adjusted EBITDA and EPS Decline
Q4 2024 adjusted EBITDA was $855 million compared to $916 million last year, and adjusted EPS was $0.46 compared to $0.54 in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Inflationary Headwinds and Consumer Behavior
Inflationary pressures have elevated customer needs for value, with a shift towards value and promotional items. SNAP customers are experiencing more pressure, affecting consumer behavior.
Tariffs and Cost of Goods Concerns
The potential impact of tariffs remains a concern, as Albertsons procures more than 90% of products domestically, but ingredient sourcing from tariff-impacted areas could affect costs.
Company Guidance
In the Albertsons Companies Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year-End 2024 earnings call, guidance for fiscal year 2025 was highlighted with several key metrics. The company projected identical sales growth ranging from 1.5% to 2.5%, assuming inflation of 1.5% to 2%. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $3.8 billion and $3.9 billion, with approximately $65 million related to the fiscal year's 53rd week. Adjusted EPS is anticipated to be in the range of $2.03 to $2.16, including a $0.03 contribution from the 53rd week. Capital expenditures are forecasted to be between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion. The company aims to achieve $1.5 billion in productivity savings from fiscal 2025 through fiscal 2027, which will be reinvested into growth initiatives and to offset inflationary pressures. Additionally, Albertsons plans to continue investing in digital growth, the Albertsons Media Collective, Health and Pharmacy, and operational technology to enhance customer engagement and value proposition.

Albertsons Companies Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Albertsons Companies demonstrates consistent revenue growth and strong cash flow performance, indicating effective management and operational efficiency. However, the high debt-to-equity ratio and declining EBIT and EBITDA margins present challenges in operational efficiency and financial leverage.
Income Statement
78
Positive
Albertsons Companies has demonstrated consistent revenue growth over the past few years, with a notable increase from $62.5 billion in 2020 to $79.2 billion in 2024. The gross profit margin has remained relatively stable, indicating effective cost management despite competitive pressures. Net profit margin has shown improvement, reflecting enhanced profitability. However, EBIT and EBITDA margins slightly declined in recent years, suggesting potential challenges in operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
65
Positive
The company's balance sheet reflects a high debt-to-equity ratio, indicating significant leverage which could be a concern in a high-interest rate environment. However, there has been improvement in stockholders' equity over the years, enhancing financial stability. The equity ratio has been relatively low due to high liabilities, suggesting a need for cautious financial management.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
Albertsons shows strong cash flow performance with positive free cash flow over the years, indicating effective cash management and operational efficiency. The operating cash flow to net income ratio indicates robust cash generation relative to profit. The free cash flow growth rate has been positive, further supporting financial health and providing flexibility for future investments or debt reduction.
Breakdown
Mar 2025Mar 2024Mar 2023Mar 2022Mar 2021
Income StatementTotal Revenue
80.39B79.24B77.65B71.89B69.69B
Gross Profit
22.26B20.43B21.76B20.72B20.41B
EBIT
1.55B2.07B2.31B2.44B1.62B
EBITDA
4.10B4.54B4.80B4.89B3.79B
Net Income Common Stockholders
958.60M1.30B1.51B1.62B850.20M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
293.60M188.70M455.80M2.90B1.72B
Total Assets
26.76B26.22B26.17B28.12B26.60B
Total Debt
14.18B14.24B14.96B14.03B14.47B
Net Debt
13.89B14.05B14.51B11.12B12.75B
Total Liabilities
23.37B23.47B24.56B25.10B25.27B
Stockholders Equity
3.39B2.75B1.61B3.02B1.32B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
749.40M628.20M700.00M1.91B2.27B
Operating Cash Flow
2.68B2.66B2.85B3.51B3.90B
Investing Cash Flow
-1.89B-1.75B-1.98B-1.54B-1.57B
Financing Cash Flow
-684.10M-1.18B-3.37B-789.50M-1.04B

Albertsons Companies Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price21.22
Price Trends
50DMA
21.75
Negative
100DMA
21.23
Negative
200DMA
19.99
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.16
Positive
RSI
40.77
Neutral
STOCH
25.94
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ACI, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 21.22 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 21.75, below the 50-day MA of 21.75, and above the 200-day MA of 19.99, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.16 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 40.77 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 25.94 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for ACI.

Albertsons Companies Risk Analysis

Albertsons Companies disclosed 43 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Albertsons Companies reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Albertsons Companies Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (65)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
SFSFM
70
Outperform
$15.37B35.5535.74%15.51%53.77%
KRKR
69
Neutral
$43.03B17.5926.59%1.97%-1.94%23.94%
65
Neutral
$8.89B14.914.67%6.16%3.60%-2.89%
WMWMK
64
Neutral
$1.98B18.537.54%1.85%1.76%6.01%
ACACI
62
Neutral
$12.25B12.9531.26%2.80%1.46%-26.54%
61
Neutral
$1.12B18.474.00%1.09%-7.79%-64.85%
GOGO
60
Neutral
$1.29B80.941.43%10.37%-73.84%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ACI
Albertsons Companies
21.22
1.68
8.60%
IMKTA
Ingles Markets
60.55
-8.29
-12.04%
KR
Kroger Company
65.56
15.58
31.17%
WMK
Weis Markets
73.87
12.87
21.10%
SFM
Sprouts Farmers
157.92
80.17
103.11%
GO
Grocery Outlet Holding
13.63
-7.28
-34.82%

Albertsons Companies Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Albertsons Companies Announces CEO Vivek Sankaran’s Retirement
Neutral
Mar 3, 2025

Albertsons Companies announced the retirement of CEO Vivek Sankaran, effective May 1, 2025, with Susan Morris, the current Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, set to succeed him. This transition is part of a comprehensive succession plan, with Morris bringing nearly 40 years of industry experience to the role, aiming to continue the company’s growth and strategic initiatives, including the ‘Customers for Life’ strategy.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.